“God writes spiritual Mysteries on our heart, where they wait silently for discovery.” – Rumi

Weekly Focus: Sahasrara Chakra (crown chakra)

Sahasrara is the seventh chakra located at the crown of the head. This space is our source of light – our connection to universal consciousness and the divine. It is here that we find a sense of absolute peace and calm.

Sahasrara connects us to all things outside of ourself. This week we focus on embracing our connection to the expansiveness that exists around us, and ultimately, embracing our infinity.

Yoga suggests that within us lies an existence or consciousness that will remain beyond this dying life and exist for all time. The energy of sahasrara comes from this space of consciousness — a cosmic, undying energy. When we feel balanced in this chakra we feel a sense of clarity, and with that, a sense of purpose for ourself.

It can be hard to recognize and ultimately embrace our unity with the Universe. Even more so, grasping this concept can be even more baffling. When you reflect on unity with the Universe, what does that mean to you? Do you see your energy as infinite or finite?

Here are a few simple practices to connect with Sahasrara:

1. Practice yoga asana — take time to practice tree pose (vrkshasana). Allow yourself a few minutes to practice each side, perhaps practicing near a wall, counter or chair, if balance is tricky. Keep your gaze soft and focus on the crown of your head. Notice how you feel after. 
2. Practice pranayama — find yourself in a comfortable reclined position and begin to notice how you are breathing. Gradually deepen your breath. As you inhale, imagine breathing up into the crown of your head, and exhale down into your feet. Practice for 2 – 3 minutes, setting a timer to keep you on track. Notice how you feel after.
3. Practice meditation — come to a comfortable seat or reclined position. Remove distratctions by lowering the lights, making sure you are warm and comfortable. Meditate on the sound “om.” You can say this sound quietly to yourself each time you exhale, or, check out an om chant and play this in the background. Focus on the sound and the feel of “om.” Set a timer for 5 minutes to keep you on track. Notice how you feel after. 

Passive Pose of the Week: Ardha Mandukasana (half frog)

Ardha Mandukasana helps us feel grounded and rooted, to balance the airy and ethereal nature of Sahasrara.

• Begin lying down on your belly.
• Stack your hands, one atop the other, to rest your forehead or one cheek. 
• Slide your right knee forward on the floor, until it comes to an approximate 90 degree angle. 
• Hold the pose for 5 – 7 breaths. Switch sides. 

This pose is seemingly simple, but there are a few ways we can make the pose even more comfortable. The more comfortable we are, the fewer distractions we have in the pose, helping us to relax and tune into deeper levels of self reflection. If being on your chest makes it uncomfortable for any reason, try folding a blanket and placing under the arms, to provide more space and lift. If your bent knee feels pressure from a hard floor beneath it, try bringing a thinly folded blanket underneath to pad the knee. If the hip on the bent knee side feels very tight, and high off the ground, trying place a thinly folded blanket under the hip of the extended leg, allowing the opposite side to soften. Perhaps you try each variation shown above and compare. Which helps you have the least amount of distraction?

Active Pose of the Week: Sasangasana (rabbit pose)